ABSTRACT
The health status of Hispanic children in the United States has become an important national issue as a result of the rapid growth and persistent poverty of this population. The high rate of poverty among Hispanic children associated with the limited educational attainment of their parents and the increased risk for poor health that these two factors imply makes it imperative that achieve a better understanding of the health status of Hispanic children. In adults, self-reported health status has been predictive of demands for health care services, survival, and many other health status measures. The prevalences of chronic medical conditions and poor-health ratings of children and adolescents were compared across the three Hispanic subgroups. In addition, the effects of sex, age, poverty, and level of acculturation on these health measures were evaluated for each Hispanic subgroup. The three Hispanic subgroups are: Mexican Americans, mainland Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans.
